Peter campbell



(No Model.) P. CAMPBELL.

Vehiclq Spring.

No. 23I,996. Patented Septi 7,1880.

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".EEIERS, PMOTO-LITHOGRAFHEFL WASHINGTONv D c,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER CAMPBELL, OF AUGUSTA, KY., ASSIGNOR OF TVVO-THIRDS OF HIS RIG-HTTO FRED A. NEIDER AND JOHN A. HOPKINS, OF SAME PLACE,

ONE THIRD TO EACH.

VEHICLE-SPRING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 231,996, datedSeptember 7, 1880.

Application filed March 11. 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, PETER CAMPBELL, of Augusta, in the county of Brackenand State of Kentucky, have invented certain Improvements in Springsfor'Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to springs for vehicles of all kinds, but it isespecially adapted to buggies, carriages, or light wagons of any kind.

The invention relates, in part, to the arrangement of the springs withreference to the bolster or axle and the side bars or bed, and in partto rubber re-enforcin g springs adapted to be readily removed whendesired, all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the drawings, which serve to illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is afront elevation, showing the arrangement of the springs. Fig. 2- is aside elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an elevation of a spring suppliedwith my improved re-enforee and Fig. 4 is a cross-secti on of the same,taken in the plane of the line 00 m in Fig. 3.

Let A A designate leaf-springs, preferably of one piece or plate ofmetal and not lami nated, and tapered as shown.

B B are the side bars of the vehicle, which connect the outer ends ofthe springs at the sides. 0 is the bolster, and D D are the axles.

The springs A A are arranged in pairs, those at the front end fixed uponthe bolster at a and those at the rear upon the axle. Each spring iscurved back over itself, and they are arranged back to back, the outerends being attached to the side bars at z z. The side bars are connectedby tie-bars b 1), upon which the bed rests by preference 5 but the bedmay rest directly upon the side bars or upon the springs themselves. Theobject is to prevent the ends a z of the springs from separatinglaterally when the weight is thrown upon them, and when the bed does notrest directly upon the side bars or springs the tie-bars I) serve toprevent this spreading 5 but when the bed rests upon the side bars itperforms this function of itself. If it rests directly upon the springs,it performs the functions of both side bars and tie-bars. This latterconstruction, however, is objectionable, as it does not permit the bedto be changed readily, and it is desirable that the ends of the springsbe permanently tied together at the sides by the side bars.

I employ the term bed to signify the body, box, or platform to bear theload.

A spring of the construction above described possesses great elasticityand is very strong and durable, there being no sharp angles over whichit is bent by the load.

In some cases I may arrange my springs as side springs, instead of asshown, and I may arrange them in a position inverted with respect tothat shown-that is, the ends 2 zresting on the axle or side bars on thesame and the bed resting upon the ends a a.

It often happens that it is necessary to throw a severe strain upon thesprings of a vehicle by an extra load, and as this is extraordinary, itis desirable that extraordinary means should be employed to prevent thesprings from being injured. I employ for this purpose a rubber block, E,of peculiar construction, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. This block is madeto fit into the curve of the spring, the latter engaging a shallowgroove in its edges or face, whereby it is retained in place, and it ispro vided with an aperture, 0, which is adapted to reduce the materialof the block where it is not required. The upright part (I of the blockis arranged to take the compressive strain, while the annular partserves to re-enforce the curved part of the spring. This re-enforcingblock may be readily forced into its place at any time, and be asreadily removed, no extraneous fastening being required.

I am fully aware that bent leaf-springs are not new, and that it is notnew to re-enforce metal springs with rubber springs or blocks. All ofthese are very old, andI make no claim to them; but

WVhat I do claim is-- 1. The combination, with the springs, arrangedback to back, as shown, of the side bars, the bolster, the axles, andthe tie-bars, or other suitable means for connecting the side bars, soas to prevent their separating or spreading when the weight is thrownupon the springs, substantially as set forth.

2. The rubber re-enforce E, having a groove or recess to receive thespring, so as to retain it in place in the bend of the same, incombination with the spring A, substantially as ferential groove toreceive the spring, the apherein set forth. erture c, and the uprightpart d, all arranged 3. The combination, with. the metal sprinsubstantially as set forth. bent to form a curve, as shown, of therubber In Witness whereof I have hereunto signed 5 reenforce spring,made to fit into the enrvein my name in the presence of two subscribingI 5 the metal spring, and cut away, as at 0, so as to witnesses.

Weaken it at that point, substantially as and PETER CAMPBELL. for thepurposes set forth. Witnesses:

4. The combination of the springA with the JOHN M, HARBESON,

:0 rubber re-enforee E, provided with the eircum- F. W. ALLEN.

